This code of conduct intends to provide guidance to individuals engaged in activities for, or on behalf of, the Better Futures Innovation Challenge in their interactions with all Challenge stakeholders.

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This code is a set of general principles rather than detailed prescriptions. It stands beside but does not exclude or replace the rights and responsibilities of members to their employing organisations, under Common Law or any Commonwealth and State legislations. 

 

All individuals participating in the Better Futures Innovation Challenge will understand and follow their responsibilities as prescribed under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018. National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council and Universities Australia. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. 

 

The Better Futures Innovation Challenge will not tolerate any sort of discrimination, harassment or victimisation. Should an individual associated with or attending the Better Futures Innovation Challenge be accused of discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation, the Better Futures Innovation Challenge Steering Committee Chair, or their nominated representative, will take immediate appropriate actions as necessary.

 

Better Futures Innovation Challenge Stakeholder Responsibilities

All Better Futures Innovation Challenge stakeholders should be aware of all policies on discrimination, harassment, and victimisation at their employing organisations.

 

Personal and Professional Conduct

All Better Futures Innovation Challenge stakeholders and Challenge participants should:

• refrain from all forms of discrimination, harassment and victimisation;

• treat other stakeholders and members of the public with dignity, courtesy, and respect; and

• give due credit to the contributions of others.

 

Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Discrimination is treating, or proposing to treat, someone unfavourably because of personal characteristics which includes a disability, parental status, race, colour, descent, national origin, age, sex, industrial activities, religion, pregnancy, breastfeeding, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, political opinion, social origin, medical record, or an association with someone who has or is assumed to have one of these personal characteristics or may have it at some time in the future.

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Sexual Harassment is a specific and serious form of harassment. It is unwelcome sexual behaviour, which could be expected to make a person feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated. Sexual harassment can be physical, spoken or written. It can include:

• comments about a person’s private life or the way they look;

• sexually suggestive behaviour, such as leering or staring;

• sexually suggestive comments or jokes;

• displaying offensive screensavers, photos, calendars or objects;

• repeated unwanted requests to go out;

• sexually explicit posts on social networking sites;

• insults or taunts of a sexual nature;

• intrusive questions or statements about a person’s private life;

• sending sexually explicit emails or text messages;

• inappropriate advances on social networking sites; and

• behaviour that may also be considered to be an offence under criminal law, such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking or obscene communications.

 

Better Futures Innovation Challenge stakeholders and Challenge participants are asked to:

• not discriminate anyone in connection with any Better Futures Innovation Challenge activities on any personal characteristics;

• not engage in any form of sexual harassment; and

• ensure all communication is appropriate for a professional audience including people from different backgrounds and personal characteristics. Sexual language and imagery in presentations is not appropriate.

 

Victimisation

Victimisation is subjecting or threatening to subject someone to a detriment because they have asserted their rights under equal opportunity law, made a complaint, helped someone else make a complaint, or refused to do something because it would be discrimination, sexual harassment, or victimisation.

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It is also victimisation to threaten someone (such as a witness) who may be involved in investigating an equal opportunity concern or complaint.

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Better Futures Innovation Challenge stakeholders and Challenge attendees are asked to not engage in or encourage any forms of victimisation.

 

Breaches of the Better Futures Innovation Challenge Code of Conduct

Breaches of this Code of Conduct will not be tolerated. Depending on the situation, breaches could result in services being revoked and/or individuals being removed from the Challenge and not being permitted to return. Any breaches should be reported as soon as possible to the Better Futures Innovation Challenge Steering Committee Chair, or their nominated representative, as soon as possible. Any member who wishes to report a violation of this Code of Conduct is asked to speak, in confidence, to the:

• Better Futures Innovation Challenge Steering Committee Chair

• Name: Nicholas Kirkwood

• Email: connect@betterfutures.org

 

Review of the Better Futures Innovation Challenge Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct will be reviewed by the Better Futures Innovation Challenge Steering Committee annually to ensure it remains consistent with the objectives and responsibilities of the Better Futures Innovation Challenge.